“But I can’t say I loved shooting, or that I’ll be doing it again soon. Still, the experience has informed my reporting.

Having loaded and re-loaded a gun myself, I better understand why magazine capacity is key to a shooter’s ability to fire lots of bullets quickly.

Having felt, with my own hands, the differences among various bullet sizes, I better understand why bullet caliber can affect a firearm’s power, even though caliber isn’t generally addressed in assault weapons bans.

I better understand where gun advocates come from when they describe people who shoot firearms recreationally, with no intent to aim a gun at a person.”

But I wondered: Would shooting again change my ambivalence about guns?

My wife grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Her brother was shot in the leg for his bike growing up. She didn't want a gun in our house.She admitted that her opinion was formed by what she saw in the media....guns were always bad.

Any way, being the smart gal that she is, she said "Well, maybe I should at least try it." Fast forward to today....she's had her CCW permit for 8yrs and loves to shoot.

11
posted on 01/17/2013 10:25:56 AM PST
by Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)

Well, she is a more honest reporter than most. At she is making a half hearted attempt to learn something. Most so called “journalists” just use their creative writing skills and make up gun facts as they go along.

There sure is a wide gulf between people who are familiar with firearms and people who have never operated a gun. It is hard to put yourself in their shoes.

Yes she does. I loaned her my .340 Weatherby magnum so she could show her the difference between “assault” rifles and a high powered hunting rifle Saturday also.

That young woman actually shot it too, I’m glad I didn’t unscrew the recoil suppressor like I joked I was going to, I never thought a newbie would have the guts to climb behind it after she heard the first guy fire it, I was surprised.

I never thought a newbie would have the guts to climb behind it after she heard the first guy fire it, I was surprised.

It's funny. I used to get surprised by that, too. However, after taking gun haters to the range to try it out,after I start them out on a .22 they almost always skip over the .9mm and want to shoot the .45. LOL

Who'd of thunk it?

17
posted on 01/17/2013 10:37:01 AM PST
by Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)

Having loaded and re-loaded a gun myself, I better understand why magazine capacity is key to a shooter's ability to fire lots of bullets quickly. Having felt, with my own hands, the differences among various bullet sizes, I better understand why bullet caliber can affect a firearm's power, even though caliber isn't generally addressed in assault weapons bans. I better understand where gun advocates come from when they describe people who shoot firearms recreationally, with no intent to aim a gun at a person.

Something that people don't point out about magazine capacity, is that in reality, the number one use of guns is target practice, and recreational shooting, the primary use of guns requires full size magazines.

That gun shop owner has already had a productive year as an effective political activist, he deserves a friendly email.

19
posted on 01/17/2013 10:42:54 AM PST
by ansel12
(Cruz said "conservatives trust Sarah Palin that if she says this guy is a conservative, that he is")

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.